Grim GDP Figures Pile Pressure on Japan Officials

By

Takashi Nakamichi

Updated Nov. 12, 2012 4:04 a.m. ET

TOKYO—Japan's embattled policy-makers will likely face even greater pressure to resuscitate growth as data released Monday showed a sharp economic contraction in the third quarter, forcing the economy minister to accept the possibility that Japan is already in a recession.

Japan's gross domestic product shrank an annualized 3.5% in July-September, the biggest drop since the country was hit by the massive March 2011 earthquake and...